Azadi First Review Buzz: Sreenath Bhasi, Lal, And Vani Vishwanath-Led Malayalam Thriller Draws Attention

Azadi Special Premiere Reactions: With just two days to go for its theatrical release, the Malayalam film Azadi has already begun drawing attention following a special premiere screening held recently. While the film is yet to be made available to the general public, initial reactions from select viewers at the premiere suggest that the film is being keenly followed within industry circles.

Directed by Jo George and headlined by Sreenath Bhasi, the film features a cast that includes Lal, Vani Vishwanath, Saiju Kurup, and Raveena Ravi. Produced by Faizal Raja under the banner of Little Crew Production, Azadi is being released in cinemas on May 23, presented by Central Pictures, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the distribution house.

Azadi: A Jailbreak Thriller

The film's premise places it firmly in the jailbreak thriller space, with the narrative unfolding primarily in a hospital setting. According to the synopsis, the story revolves around a pregnant woman accused of murder who is brought to a hospital to deliver her baby. Her husband, given a narrow 24-hour window, devises an escape plan involving a small network of insiders. However, complications arise as individuals linked to the couple's past infiltrate the hospital with their own deadly motives. As events spiral, the mystery behind the original murder begins to unravel.

While the general audience will have to wait until May 23 to watch the film, reports indicate that Azadi has already closed its post-theatrical rights. This is seen as a noteworthy move, given the prevailing market conditions that make such deals increasingly difficult to secure for mid-sized productions.

The film is written by Sagar and features cinematography by Saneesh Stanly, editing by Noufal Abdullah, and music and background score by Varun Unni. The technical crew also includes production designer Sahas Bala, re-recording mixer Fazal A. Backer, and sound design by Sound Ideas. Visual effects have been handled by Coconut Bunch, while the color grading was completed by Alex Varghese under Thapasi Motion Pictures.

Creative production was overseen by Raiz Sumaiya Rehman, with Abdul Nowshad PA serving as executive producer. The project also saw the involvement of Remis Raja and Resmi Faizal as co-producers.

Although the actual public verdict will be clear only after the theatrical release, the current buzz and industry interest in Azadi point to it being one of the Malayalam titles to watch out for this month.